One of the three pillars of the Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines is “educate”. The thrust is to arm those in the supply chain industry in the country with knowledge so they can further themselves in the global arena and, in return, make the country more competitive.
Apart from our annual flagship events such as the SCMAP Supply Chain Conference and the upcoming Supply Chain Immersion (happening, again, on May 18-21), we also hold Supply Chain Mornings, a half-day seminar on supply chain fundamentals which we hold six times a year. Our first SCM talk for the year, held last February 24, saw SCMAP president elect Nestor Felicio, of United Laboratories, tackling supply chain planning and strategy.
Of course we aren’t the only organization offering a training program on supply chain. Companies who are looking to enhance their employees’ knowledge in this field have a wide range of options. A quick Google search would lead you to a wealth of workshops and seminars, held year round, from basic principles in warehousing and procurement, to more intensive modules in topics such as negotiation, planning and green logistics.
These programs are offered not just by organizations that specialize in supply chain; other groups have also gotten in on the act. I believe this is a reflection of supply chain being more than just a field of specialization, but rather, as a way of doing things. Connecting point A to point B is just a small part, after all, of what supply chain is all about.
However, these programs tend to target supply chain professionals – from managers and executives, to supervisory employees who are knee-deep in their respective processes. This is not a bad thing: with the continued evolution of supply chain, it is best for those in the industry to keep up with new trends, developments and perspectives.
But those working at the lowest levels — the men and women working in warehouses; those that literally do the heavy lifting, so to speak — tend to be left behind. As critical parts of any supply chain, shouldn’t they be given knowledge, too? And shouldn’t that knowledge go beyond the basics of their job — how to operate a forklift, for example, or how to stack cases in pallets? Shouldn’t they be made aware of their value to the entire supply chain?
With that in mind, SCMAP has forged partnerships with several organizations. With the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), we are currently in the process of finalizing a curriculum for a national certification program on warehousing. The process began with a series of workshops and meetings, involving stakeholders and experts, to essential skills and competencies relevant to those in warehousing. We have also begun working on a similar curriculum for logistics administration.
Our work is not just limited to Philippine borders. SCMAP and TESDA are part of the APEC Transport and Logistics Project, an initiative headed by the Australian government that will set standard skills within the supply chain industry across the region. This would allow certified Filipinos to be able to bring their skills outside the country. These efforts bring supply chain education further down the line, empowering front line workers with a consistent set of skills they can use to further their careers and their lives.
In other fronts, SCMAP is partnering with the University of the Philippines’ National Engineering Center for a series of certification programs on supply chain management, as part of its continuing education program. Finally, we are also working with GoNegosyo as part of its MentorMe Program, reaching out to MSME owners and imparting to them basic supply chain management knowledge that will help them bring their enterprises to new heights.
Connecting point A to point B is just a small part, after all, of what supply chain is all about. We believe a wider audience should be made aware of the basic principles of supply chain — not just technical knowhow, but also its contribution to our economic success and our quality of life. We hope these efforts, as well as those of other groups, are just the beginning.
Henrik Batallones is the marketing and communications executive of SCMAP. A former board director, he is also editor-in-chief of the organization’s official publication, Supply Chain Philippines. For questions or comments, email him at henrikbatallones@gmail.com.
